1. LEGAL NORMS

The INTEGRATED POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL LAW has been elaborated according to the 96/61/EC EU Directive, which in its documents and recommendations (BREFs), elaborated by the Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control Bureau (IPPC Bureau), establishes the obligation of applying, before year 2007, the Best Available Techniques (BATs) to all types of industries, in order to reduce its environmental impact and prevent contamination of the same.

2. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TECHNIQUES FOR THE REDUCTION OF CONTAMINATING EMISSIONS

There are numerous techniques for the reduction of gas contaminating emissions, but in all of them it is essential to dispose of measuring elements that provide as fast and reliable as possible the precise instant in which the contaminating emission is produced.

The 96/61/EC Directive recommends the application of continuous monitoring techniques for the gas and steam leaks that directly or indirectly affect the environment.

The SmartWatch® technique has demonstrated to be very effective in the instantaneous detection of incipient process gas leaks through safety valves, shutdown valves, steam traps, ..., allowing the substantial reduction of contaminating emissions. As an example, the application of this technique in installations of the REPSOL-YPF petrochemical complex in Puertollano has resulted in a reduction of 1,2 KTm/year of equivalent fuel oil in the steam generation and 5 KTm/year of process gas emissions to atmosphere.

Thus, the SmartWatch® technique can be included in the BAT category.

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